Republican National Convention: Wednesday night breakdown

The talk of the night was Sarah Palin.  Everywhere, questions were asked.  Will she perform to expectation?  Will she prove credible?  Can she maintain composure in national limelight? 

Checkmark yes to all of the above - Gov. Sarah Palin undoubtedly rocked the house last night.  With a fiery speech that brought the Xcel Center to its feet numerous times, the response from the crowd solidified the mutually shared confidence that Palin is ready and able. The Governor from Alaska delivered charismatic, powerful, and straightforward remarks as she accepted the nomination of becoming the first female Republican vice presidential nominee.

Mississippi delegate Mark Cumbest from Mosspoint, MS, said, “Sarah Palin proved tonight that she is the perfect complement to the McCain ticket. Over the past several days we’ve learned a lot about her impressive background. The unknown at least until tonight was can she ‘connect’ with voters. I think she has the talent and charisma to strengthen the Republican ticket and to win over disenfranchised Hillary Clinton voters among others. It was a momentous night in the history of our country. The McCain-Palin team is a winner.”

Trent Lott cheers on the speakers Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention.

Signs that read “Palin Power” and “I love hockey moms” waved through the energized crowd.  Palin finally got to share her story with America.  She outlined her background as an average hockey mom, and layered her professional experiences as Mayor of Wasilla and Governor of Alaska to reveal a woman ready and qualified to serve our nation.

“Before I became Governor of the great state of Alaska, I was Mayor of my hometown,” Gov. Palin told the crowd.   “And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer,’ except that you have actual responsibilities.”

Palin also took on the negative media she has received over the past few days as she said, “I’m not a member of the permanent political establishment.  And I’ve learned quickly, these past few days, that if you’re not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone. But here’s a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion; I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this country.”

Palin had several notable lines in her speech.  Click here to view a list of those one-liners on Y’all Politics.

We also can’t forget the influential speeches of Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, and Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York.  All three men delivered their remarks with passion and power as they took on Obama’s intended direction for our nation and articulated their avid support for both John McCain and Sarah Palin. One of the favorite lines of the night delivered from Rudy Giuliani referred to Obama’s campaign theme, “… ‘change’ is not a destination, just as ‘hope’ is not a strategy.”  Palin also mentioned the Obama mantra when she said, “Some use change to promote their career while John McCain uses his career to promote change.”

A surprise to the crowd, Senator McCain joined the Palin family on stage and asked the delegates, “Do you think we made the right choice?”  The uproar that followed provided the obvious answer.  The Convention then got down to the business at hand, which was the formal nomination of John McCain as the Republican nominee for President of the United States.  Several states graciously passed on casting their votes so that Arizona delegates would have the deciding number of votes necessary for McCain to officially clinch the nomination.

Mississippi casts its vote for John McCain as the Republican presidential nominee. Pictured in front: MS GOP Chairman Jim Herring and Mississippi’s 3rd Congressional district Republican candidate for Congress Gregg Harper. Pictured in back: Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann and Mississippi delegate Mark Cumbest.

The one blip on the evening was the fact that two women protestors somehow managed to sneak into the event (likely from passes cut from the neckstrands of actual delegates that day).  They came down the aisle closest to the stage in ridiculous pink dresses screaming something inaudible from my position.  Luckily, the event occurred while Governor Palin was in the middle of a well-timed remark and the brief altercation was masked by the crowd’s cheers.  The law enforcement effort here has been overwhelming and appreciated.  Overall, Wednesday was a great night filled with energy and enthusiasm among the GOP.  Tonight will bring the convention to a close as Sen. John McCain accepts his nomination.  

Stay tuned for more coverage from tonight’s Convention proceedings.  Also, check back for pictures from the event.

Senator Cochran released the following statement yesterday urging action on comprehensive energy legislation:

“The Democrat-led Congress is currently preventing the consideration of comprehensive energy legislation that would result in reduced gasoline prices.  It would be irresponsible for Democrats to allow Congress to adjourn for August recess without providing mechanisms through which to ease the burden that has been placed on Americans because of skyrocketing gas prices. 
 
“The United States has been dependent on foreign oil for too long.  We must take action to explore the oil reserves that are in our own country and to find alternative sources of energy.  The Gas Price Reduction Act lays the groundwork for real energy independence for our nation.  I urge Congress to work together on this legislation to provide real and immediate relief for Americans.” 

Also, read the article by the Daily Journal below on the issue:

EDITORIAL: Energy policy work

7/17/2008 4:53:46 AM
Daily Journal
 

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Tupelo, Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Jackson/Oxford, and 1st District Rep. Travis Childers, D-Booneville, appear to have considerable common ground in their goals for short- and long-term energy supply and energy independence action by Congress.

All three said this week they support opening drilling for additional oil off the Outer Continental Shelf (which includes waters off Mississippi), opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s reserves to production and immediate action on developing alternate, non-petroleum energy sources.

They also said they want Congress to stay in session and work toward passage of effective energy legislation, rather than take the usual August recess, or as long as it takes.

We agree generally, and we hope their separate but similar positions signal an emerging bipartisan consensus in both chambers of the U.S. Capitol that business as usual isn’t acceptable in the treacherous energy and economic climate our nation faces.

The Daily Journal and other newspapers reported Wednesday that steadily climbing food and energy prices shoved consumer prices during June at one of the fastest rates since the early 1980s.

Click here to read the full article in the Daily Journal.